The 23/24 campaign was a seriously strange season for Manchester United, filled with tremendous highs and extreme lows.
Despite their worst finish in Premier League history, Manchester United still emerged with a trophy at the end of the campaign – emerging victorious over bitter rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
The Manchester United first-team squad saved their bacon a little, with anything else but a victory ultimately deeming the season a complete failure.
Speaking of failures, one Manchester United man will seriously not be happy with his season in red, particularly given the fact he was one of Erik ten Hag’s signings.
Altay Bayindir’s frustrating first season at Manchester United
After Andre Onana’s arrival, Manchester United sought out backup for the goalkeeper position, which Fenerbache star Altay Bayindir was handpicked as the viable option.
United signed the Turkey international for just £4.3m, which is a bargain in this current market. Upon signing, the 26-year-old had made 166 career appearances, keeping 53 clean sheets. A remarkable record.
Flash forward a year, the Turk now has just one more club appearance. That was in an FA Cup clash against Newport County, not exactly the dream United first season he would have romanticized.
It must have been incredibly frustrating for him. Particularly when Onana wasn’t performing, the Manchester United manager still did not draft him in. He’s still yet to even play at Old Trafford, and maybe never will.
After just one season, there are now rumours linking him away from the Red Devils. Ten Hag’s reluctance to never drop Onana must play some factor in this. In the prime of his career, he simply needs first-team football – particularly if he wants to play on the international stage.
Altay Bayindir not destined to play at Euro 2024
Bayindir’s efforts for his former club have meant that he was in contention for the number one role for Turkey – but lack of game time at Manchester United means he even runs the risk of not being taken to Euro 2024.
He’s currently in the provisional 35-man squad, but being a little down the pecking order, there’s no saying he’ll even travel to Germany.
In all honesty, for the sake of his career, he probably does need to leave Manchester United. Evidently a talented goalkeeper, it is a waste of potential sat consistently in the dugout at the Theatre of Dreams.